Boom!

In an instant, the underground cavern erupted into a chaotic storm of Spirit Qi and boiling killing intent!

The azure dragon spear in Li Qiwen’s hand hummed with violent intent. He thrust out, the spear moving like a coiling dragon, churning up monstrous waves of water that crashed straight toward Xue Yang.

Xue Yang let out a sinister laugh. Three ferocious Yin Corpses, possessing bronze sinews and iron bones, charged fearlessly to meet the attack. Flanking them, three malevolent ghosts spat dark green netherfire, whipping up gusts of freezing Yin wind.

The collision between two mid-stage Golden Core prodigies unleashed a terrifying shockwave. Air currents roared, and shattered rock blasted outward like shrapnel!

On the other side, Shen Hanyi and Fish Baibai shouted in unison, already clashing with the three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Shen Hanyi’s Sword Heart was crystal clear. Her longsword danced, weaving blossoms of steel. Her dark-golden sword light was peerlessly sharp, forcing two of the opponents into a frantic, clumsy retreat.

Fish Baibai, however, shed her usual air of bubbly innocence. The warhammer, twice her height, felt weightless in her grip. Her small face was taut with concentration as she unleashed a move she rarely used—but one that offered absolute control.

“Surging Bunny Hammer!”

With a fierce cry, ripples of water manifested on the surface of the pitch-black giant hammer. It struck with the heaviness of a mountain yet flowed with the agility of water, forcibly pinning down the third late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Six fierce ghosts and three Yin Corpses roared and pounced, but the two women’s seamless coordination blocked every assault. For the moment, they held their ground perfectly.

Nearby, Li Yunmian raised a slender hand. A sky full of talismans fluttered like a swarm of butterflies, dazzling in myriad colors. They formed a grand talisman formation, entrapping the Golden Core layer-three Chen Yao, his single Yin Corpse, and Fu Hongchang—who was currently shrouded in poison mist and surrounded by ghosts.

Though Li Yunmian didn’t launch a lethal offensive, her formation became a quagmire they couldn’t escape.

“Aunt, I’ll assist you!” Li Youci’s cold voice drifted from within the [Dark Cloud Soul Chasing Sedan].

In the next moment, a ghostly figure—identical in appearance to Li Youci but radiating chilling spectral energy—floated out of the sedan. Holding a [Hundred Beast Banner], she summoned the roars of countless souls. Coordinating with the talisman formation, she locked Chen Yao and Fu Hongchang in a stalemate.

As for the real Li Youci? She sat imperiously inside the sedan, her pitch-black Netherfire burning the very air above her.

And Gao Feiyang?

He was currently huddled behind a rock, chanting like a monk.

“You can’t see me, you can’t see me… Oh god, Golden Core bosses are fighting! When immortals fight, mortals suffer!”

He hated that his parents hadn’t birthed him with two extra legs. He was terrified that a stray shockwave would turn him into paste—he wouldn’t even have a place to cry about it.

The chaos of the main battlefield seemed to isolate one specific corner.

The moment Zhou Kai opened his eyes, they locked onto a single figure—Fu Weilun!

“Zhou Kai. Finally decided to wake up?” Fu Weilun’s voice was sinister. “I thought you were going to let the women fight your battles again.”

“Fu Weilun,” Zhou Kai spoke calmly. “Outside Wangchuan City, you severed my arm and nearly took my life. Today, that debt will be repaid a hundredfold.”

Fu Weilun didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed, the disdain in his eyes deepening.

“With what? You? A trash who broke through to the second realm by burning his potential and lifespan dares to bark at me? You escaped by luck last time. This time, I’m taking your life!”

As the thought crossed his mind, a ghastly green skull artifact materialized out of thin air. It expanded in the wind, growing to the size of a millstone.

Woo—

Ghost fire flickered in the skull’s hollow sockets. Its massive maw unhinged, spewing a torrent of poisonous mist.

The mist carried a vile stench—a mix of rotting flesh and sickly sweetness. A single whiff was enough to induce vertigo, as if countless maggots were burrowing into one’s brain.

Wherever the mist passed, solid rock sizzled and emitted green smoke. The toxicity was terrifying.

In Fu Weilun’s mind, he could already see Zhou Kai writhing in the mist, his flesh sloughing off until he dissolved into a puddle of pus.

Zhou Kai’s pupils contracted. This poison was far more domineering than before!

His killing intent surged.

“Break!”

Zhou Kai growled low. The [Lawless No Word Heavenly Scripture] roared into operation, and a vast, majestic aura erupted from his body.

Without hesitation, he swung the [Chaotic Sky Hammer]!

Whoosh—Boom!

Crimson flames erupted from the hammer. Yet, within the fire, strands of vibrant green Wood Spirit Qi could be seen entwining endlessly—Wood feeding Fire!

The flames exploded in intensity, instantly enveloping the hammerhead and transforming it into a titan of emerald fire.

The air popped and crackled from the heat, suppressing the sickly sweet stench of the poison.

With a furious roar, Zhou Kai swept the hammer horizontally!

A crescent-shaped wave of fire, like a raging dragon breaching the sea, crashed into the wall of dark green poison mist.

Under Fu Weilun’s astonished gaze, the previously unstoppable poison mist met the tyrannical Wood-fueled fire. It was like pouring boiling oil onto snow.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

Massive swathes of the mist were scorched, evaporated, and scattered into nothingness!

As the flames cleared the air, they revealed Fu Weilun’s distorted expression.

How can his fire be so domineering?! A chill ran down Fu Weilun’s spine.

His eyes turned vicious. “Zhou Kai, don’t think breaking my mist makes you strong! Today, witness the terror of my Soul Devouring Cauldron!”

Before his words faded, a simple, ancient, three-legged cauldron flew from his dantian. It spun rapidly, swelling to waist-height. The surface was etched with the twisted, agonizing faces of human souls, radiating bone-chilling cold.

His life-bound treasure—the [Soul Devouring Cauldron]!

The cauldron’s mouth was a deep abyss. An invisible, insidious force erupted, bypassing physical defenses and drilling straight for Zhou Kai’s Consciousness Sea.

Zhou Kai felt a sharp stabbing pain between his brows, as if steel needles were being driven into his brain. The wails, screams, and curses of countless vengeful spirits exploded in his mind.

The world before him twisted. Seas of blood, mountains of corpses, severed limbs… terrifying illusions threatened to drag his sanity into a boundless hell.

Strong soul attack!

Zhou Kai was shocked. If his Divine Sense wasn’t comparable to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment, his mind would have already collapsed.

He didn’t dare hesitate. He immediately circulated the [Mirror Lake Clear Heart Method].

In his Consciousness Sea, a mirror of still water materialized, anchoring the center. It reflected the invading evil and shattered the ghostly illusions in an instant.

The pain faded. His mind cleared.

Fu Weilun stared in disbelief as Zhou Kai merely swayed for a second before recovering.

How is this kid’s Divine Sense so resilient?! The Soul Devouring Cauldron usually breaks a cultivator’s mind instantly!

“Die!”

Fu Weilun snarled, abandoning all contempt. He slammed his hand against the [Spirit Beast Bag] at his waist.

Buzzzzz—

A piercing, high-frequency chirping erupted, sharp enough to bleed the eardrums.

This time, Zhou Kai saw them clearly.

Fingernail-sized, pitch-black, with cracked patterns on their backs.

[Split-Backed Katydids].

They formed a dark cloud, swarming toward him. Their mandibles snapped with cold light, and their wings vibrated to create a nerve-shredding noise.

Zhou Kai’s eyes narrowed. Last time, just a few of these had pierced his skin. He couldn’t tank this swarm.

[Cicada Shell Shadow Hiding]!

His figure suddenly blurred and vanished. In his place, a lifelike Phantom remained, while his True Body drifted several feet away, narrowly evading the first wave of insects.

The katydids pounced on the phantom, gnawing at empty air.

“Don’t think you can escape!” Fu Weilun screamed, commanding the swarm to turn.

Zhou Kai snorted. He flipped his hand, producing a black banner—the [Hundred Beast Banner].

Mana surged. The banner snapped loudly in the wind.

Roar—Hiss—Screech!

Shadows of tigers, pythons, and hawks roared out of the banner. Empowered by the Heavenly Scripture, they were far stronger than before. They charged into the insect cloud, tearing, biting, and smashing.

Beast roars mixed with insect screeches. Stench and sparks filled the air.

Amidst the chaos, Fu Weilun seized an opening. Moving like lightning, he struck a palm toward Zhou Kai’s chest. The wind from his palm carried a faint but deadly scent of corpse rot.

Zhou Kai reacted instantly, sweeping the Chaotic Sky Hammer to block.

Bang!

Palm met hammer handle.

Zhou Kai felt a strange, Yin-cold force travel up the weapon and invade his body. His arm went numb, his Vitality churning.

Wait.

In that split second, Zhou Kai realized something. Back outside the city, when he dislocated my shoulder… it wasn’t just brute force. He poisons his palms!

Old hatred fueled new rage. The killing intent in Zhou Kai’s eyes blazed, and the hammer in his hands danced with wild fury.

“Fu Weilun, you die today!”

Zhou Kai roared. The Chaotic Sky Hammer thundered, glowing with the four colors of Metal, Wood, Water, and Fire. The intent of the [Starfall Myriad Forms Hammer] erupted—every strike carried the weight of a falling star, smashing toward Fu Weilun’s face.

Fu Weilun was forced backward, terror rising in his heart.

He hadn’t expected Zhou Kai to be a dual cultivator of body and magic, amplified by a supreme scripture.

“The one dying is you!” Fu Weilun shrieked.

He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of Essence Blood onto the Soul Devouring Cauldron.

Hum!

The cauldron blazed with light, unleashing a massive soul shockwave. Simultaneously, poison mist surged like a tidal wave.

“A dying struggle!”

Zhou Kai’s eyes flashed cold. He had anticipated this.

His Divine Sense sharpened to a needle point. The Mirror in his mind blazed, forcefully tanking the soul attack. He ignored the poison mist sizzling against his clothes and poured every drop of his Mana into the hammer.

“BREAK!”

Zhou Kai raised the hammer high. The four elemental lights merged into a sphere of destruction, descending like a meteor toward Fu Weilun’s skull.

This was a full-power strike!

Facing death, Fu Weilun threw his head back and laughed maniacally.

“Zhou Kai! I told you! YOU are the one who dies! Taste this!”

“[Death Mountain Nail]! Explode!”

A short, blood-red nail covered in cursed runes shot from his sleeve. Faster than sound, it rocketed straight at Zhou Kai’s exposed chest.

This was his trump card—a one-time-use artifact gifted by his uncle, capable of maiming a late-stage Bone Forging expert.

Boom—!!!

A deafening explosion rocked the cavern.

The Death Mountain Nail detonated against Zhou Kai’s chest. A pillar of blood-red light shot into the ceiling.

Zhou Kai didn’t even have time to scream. His upper body exploded into a mist of gore and energy, instantly obliterated by the blast. He vanished without a trace.

“Hahaha… HAHAHAHA!”

Fu Weilun stared at the empty space where his enemy stood a second ago.

“Zhou Kai! So what if you’re cunning? So what if you have talent?! You still died at my hands!”

Ecstasy flooded his veins. He lunged forward, claws out, hoping to catch a remnant of the soul to torture.

“Against me, Fu Weilun, this is your only end!”

But just as his joy reached its peak—

A voice, cold as the deepest hell and devoid of all emotion, whispered from directly behind his ear:

“Is that so? Then who, exactly, did you kill?”

Fu Weilun’s laughter choked in his throat.

A chill shot from his tailbone to his skull. His blood froze.

He turned his head in slow-motion horror.

Filling his vision was a massive warhammer, blazing with the four-colored flames of destruction. It was already mid-swing.

The wind from the hammer stung his face. The pressure crushed his soul.

“You severed my arm back then,” Zhou Kai’s voice pronounced the verdict. “Today, I shatter your whole body!”

The hammer fell.

“No—!!”

Fu Weilun screamed, trying to twist away, but he was too slow.

THUMP!

There was no earth-shattering boom. Just the sickening, wet sound of absolute destruction.

The Chaotic Sky Hammer smashed into Fu Weilun’s left shoulder.

Metal severed bone. Fire incinerated flesh. Water froze the soul. Wood tore the organs.

Four conflicting powers detonated inside him at once.

Fu Weilun’s expression was forever frozen in a mask of ultimate terror.

From his left shoulder down to his right hip, his body was obliterated—blasted into a spray of bloody mist and bone fragments.

Plop. Plop.

Two distinct halves of a corpse hit the ground.